QE2’s 40th birthday homecoming

The QE2 is to make a homecoming to the Clyde for the 40th anniversary of her launch next year.

The most famous ship in the world will return for a visit on September 20, four decades to the day since she was launched at Clydebank by Queen Elizabeth II. The call is part of a lap of honour around Britain.

The 70,000-tonne vessel will berth at Greenock at 7am and depart later that same day.

Ian Johnston, the author of Ships for a Nation, was a teenager when he watched the vessel launch. Mr Johnston, now 57, recalled: "I saw her from the window of my girlfriend's house in Drumchapel, several miles away. "I could see this huge hull going into the water from that distance, so that gives you an idea of the scale of the vessel. The quality of work on her was amazing and she remains outstandingly handsome."

Local people watched with pride as the £29m vessel left, but there was also sadness at the realisation that vital shipbuilding jobs were being lost.Mr Johnston added: "The ship was crucially important at the time because of the employment she generated. It was an emotional time when she left, because shipbuilding in the area did not last much longer. Many a tear will be shed on her anniversary return."

Mary McGlynn, a spokeswoman for Clydebank library, said people from across the world still contacted her looking for information about the QE2.She said: "People all over the world often tell us their parents or grandparents worked on it. The QE2 really is an important vessel to people with links to Clydebank. They really feel it is their ship."

Carol Marlow, managing director of Cunard, owner of the QE2, said: "Most of our great ships were built on the Clyde; we are very proud of our associations with the river. "There was a saying that 'Clydebuilt is well-built' and QE2 has certainly proved this. The ship is as popular as ever and is a true testament to the skills of the workforce who built her. There is much to celebrate on this visit, and we intend to do it in some style."